Pipe carrying assembly for sealing association with a water well casing



J. G. FISCHER Nov. 11, 1958 2,859,824

PIPE CARRYING ASSEMBLY FOR SEALING ASSOCIATION WITH A WATER WELL CASING 3' Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 25, 1957 Fig.1;

Nov. 11, 1958 J. G. FISCHER 2,859,824

PIPE CARRYING ASSEMBLY FOR SEALING ASSOCIATION WITH A WATER WELL CASING Filed March 25. 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 ATTORNEY,

J. G. FISCHER v PIPE CARRYING ASSEMBLY FOR SEALING ASSOCIATION Nov. 11, 1958- I WITH A WATER WELL CASING 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 25, 1957 INVENIOR. Ju/zus G. Escher,

ATTORNEY.

the direct lifting capacity of the pump.

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-. eight inches.

United States Patent 9 PIPE CARRYING ASSEMBLY FOR SEALING ASSO- CIATION WITH A WATER WELL CASING Julius G. Fischer, East Aurora, N. Y.

Application March 25, 1957 Serial No. 648,221 6-Claims. (Cl. 16688) use is wells the water is delivered by a motor driven pump to a storage tank from which a system of piping leads to the various outlets. In the case of shallow wells the suction influence created by the pump is alone relied upon for the delivery of water to the storage tank and the well casing encloses a single vertical pipe which has at its upper end an elbow connection to extend through an opening in the casing to an external pipe by which the water is carried, via the pump, to the storage tank. In the case of wells, known as deep wells, which have a depth of more than twenty-ive feet water is returned under suitable pressure by the pump to the aspirator jet connection below the low water level line, thereby to enable the delivery of the water from depths beyond In deep well installations the well casing therefore encloses two vertical pipes, one of which is the water delivery pipe as above described and the other of which is the water return pipe. The return pipe, like the delivery pipe, has

; at its upper end an elbow connection to extend through an opening in the casing to a second external pipe, the two elbow connections being located at the same eleva- In both types of installations the elbow connections by which the external pipes are connected to the 1 internal pipes are located below the surface of the ground and, where required by climatic conditions, below the .frost line. The well casings are usually made of metal,

e. g. steel, or sections of tiling. The metal casings are usually made in two diametrical sizes, namely six and For wells of greater diametrical dimensions the tile sections are used as the casing material.

The openings in the well casings, as made either of metal or tiling, which are necessary to accommodate the horizontal arms of the elbow connections provide a path through which bacteria, impure liquids, particles of foreign matter and insects may pass by seepage with resultant contamination of the water. In order to pro- 1 tect the well against such seepage, the long established practice has been manually to apply grouting material to fill the interstices between the horizontal arms of the elbow connections and the walls of the opening. The application of such material is laborious and time-consuming and due, either or both, to faulty application and deterioration after a relatively short period there has been no adequate or permanent seal.

.- The principal objects of the invention are to provide:

(1) a simply and economically constructed unit for association with a water well casing throughout an adequate area adjacent the several walls of the opening and which, in cooperation with the casing, will effect a complete and permanently durable seal, alike as to shallow well (single pipe) installations and deep well @(double pipe) installations; (2) such a unit-which is adaptable, and equally effective, for use with well casings from the interior of the casing.

of varying diameters, whether made of metal or tiling; and (3) such a unit which may be quickly and conveniently secured in operative position, that is to say with minimum labor and in a minimum period of time, both the labor and time being a rather small fraction of the requirements of the practice heretofore followed.

With the above objects in View the invention consists of novel features of structure and combination which include: a resilient plate to be fitted within the Well casing and having a normal curvature about a suitably longer radius than the curvature of the casings; an elbow connection carried by the plate with its horizontal arm extending through an opening in the plate and secured in any suitable manner such as welding or brazing, two such elbow connections being provided for deep well installations; a sheet of flexible sealing material, preferably neoprene rubber, coextensive in area with the plate and conformably fitted upon its convex surface, the sheet having openings to accommodate the horizontal arm of the elbow connection; and means bearing against the outer face of the well casing and cooperating with the plate to spring it through a clearance which it initially delimits into a curvature conforming to the curvature of the well casing, thereby to cause the plate and the well casing to apply pressure clamp-wise to the sheet of sealing material with its resultant secure and completely effective sealing engagement with the surfaces between which it is clamped; the well casing being formed with an opening through which the horizontal arm of the elbow connection and an element of the means project and the plate overlying the casing above, below and at the sides of the opening.

The drawings show an embodiment of the invention as used with steel well casings, the invention being equally applicable for use with casings composed of tile sections.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation showing a well casing in operative association with the sealing assembly which constitutes the invention. This figure assumes a deep well installation and the assembly, therefore, includes two elbow connections, the part of the figure which shows the assembly being drawn on an enlarged scale.

Figure la is a partial elevation on an enlarged scale, conforming to Figure 1, and showing details of the assembly.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 22 of Figure la.

Figure 3 is an elevation of the assembly as viewed Figure 4 is a vertical central sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a horizontal section showing the assembly as initially positioned in a metal well casing having a diameter of six inches.

Figure 6 is a horizontal section showing the assembly as initially positioned in a metal well casing having a diameter of eight inches.

Figure 7 is a horizontal sectional view showing the assembly in a form conformable to shallow well installations.

Figure 8 is a partial elevation of the casing of a shallow well installation and showing the assembly in the relation in which it is shown in Figure 7.

Figure 9 is an elevation showing the assembly of Figure 7 as viewed from the interior of the well casing.

Referring to Figures 1 through 6:

The well casing C encloses two vertical pipes P1 and P2, the pipe P1 conducting the water which flows to and through the pump and the pipe P2 being the water return pipe.

sealing material, preferably neoprene rubber. "'fi'which is co-extensive in area with the plate 4 and fitted .the .armsfibeing connected to the pipes P1 and P2.

The elbows 1 are carried by a plate 40f resilient metal,

preferably brass, having a normal orhinitial curvature abouta longer'radius than the radius of curvature of the .casing C. The plate 4 is formed with openings through which extend the horizontal arms 2 of the elbows 1, the :elbows being permanently connected in sealed relation to the plate-4 by brazing or welding-5 (Figures 3 and 4) adjacent the walls of the openings. The casing C is -"formed with an opening through which the arms 2 extend,- the opening 0 being of less dimensions horizon- 'tally and vertically than the plate 4 whereby the plate to afl'suitable-extent overlies the inner face of the casing C *above, below and beyond the sides of the opening as shown (Figure 3) at X, Y and Z.

The sealing of the casing against seepage through the opening 0 is effected by a sheet 6 of suitable flexible The sheet upon its convex surface is formed with openings 7 through whichthe arms 2 extend.

Figure shows the'plate 4 as having its normal curvature and initially positioned in a casing C having a diam- "eter of six inches with its vertical edges abutting the inner face of the casing and the arms 2 extending to some slight degree through the opening 0, the plate 4 and the opening 0 at such time being in symmetrically disposed relation. From this initial relation the plate is sprung or deformed into the operative relation shown in Figure 2 in which its curvature conforms to the curvature of the inner face of the casing and conjointly with the casing it applies strong clamping pressure to the sealing sheet 6 above, below and beyond the sides of the opening '0 through an area of suitable extent with result of a completely effective and permanent seal of the interior of the casing against the entrance of solid or liquid impurities, including bacteria, which may seep through the soil. The means for springing or deforming the plate into its operative relation and causing the application of sealing pressure to the sheet 6 includes a vertical bar 8 bearing upon the outer face of the casing above and below the opening 0 and means reacting against the bar 8 and cooperating with the plate 4.for causing the springing of the plate as above described, such means preferably including nut and bolt connections.

Figure 6 shows the plate 4 as having its normal curvature and initially positioned in a casing C having a diameter of eight inches.

It is preferred that two bolts 9 be provided. These are arranged in the central vertical plane which bisects the plate 4 and are suitably held-against turning movement relatively to the plate. The bolts 9 have heads 10 which bear against the inner face of the plate 4 and threaded shanks 11 which project outward from the easing C. The means for holding the bolts 9 against turn ing movement relatively to the plate 4 preferably consists of fluted sections 12 formed on the shanks 11 adjacent the heads 10, these sections having a driven fit in openings in the plate 4 and extending loosely through openings in the sheet 6. The bars 8 have openings 13 through which the shanks 11 extend. Nuts 14 engage the threadsof the shanks 11 andas turned to move inward cause the bar 8 to bear upon the outer face of the casing C and, their turningmovement being continued, effect the outward axial movement of the bolts 9, the heads 10 of which spring the plate 4, by reason of the bearing of its lateral edges against the inner face of the casing C, from the 4 initial relation shown in either of Figures 5 or 6 into the operative relation shown in Figure 2.

The arms 2 are connected to the plate 4 at opposite sides of its vertical center line and as originally positioned are convergent to a slight degree, their initial converging relation, for clarity of illustration, being exaggerated in Figures 5 and 6. When the plate 4 is sprung into the operative relation as shown in Figure 2 the arms 2 extend in substantially parallel relation.

The arms 2 and 3 of the elbows 1 have terminal portions 2a and 3a in the form of nipples which may be permanently or detachably connected to the elbows. The nipples 2a serve for the connection of the arms 2 to the external pipes and the nipples 3a serve for the connection of the arms 3 to the internal pipes P1 and P2. In modern practice the pipes P1 and P2 and the external pipes are composed of flexible hose and the nipples 2a and 3a are therefore shown in a form suitable for connection with flexible hose. Rigid pipes are occasionally used in which event the nipples 2a and 3a are externally threaded for the connection of the elbows to the pipes.

The inner face of the casing C, as it comes from the factory, is slightly pitted, and therefore somewhat rough, throughout its area. The sealing sheet 6, under the clamping pressure of the plate 4 and the casing C, adapts itself to the slight surface irregularities and is preferably coated with a sealing solution which is applied in liquid or semiliquid form and sets at room temperature. Neoprene rubher as the material of the sheet 6 is preferred in that it is not aflected'chemically by the oil component or components of the sealing solution.

The plate 4 has a normal transverse curvature about a radius of suitably greater extent than the radius of curvature of the casing C. When the plate 4 is initially positioned with reference to the opening 0 (Figures 5 and 6) a space S of crescent outline is delimited which provides the clearance required for the springing of the plate, the clearance diminishing as the plate is sprung and being eliminated when the plate is in operative relation (Figure 2). The length of the radius about which the plate 4 is curved is greater than the radii of the six and eight inch metal casings whereby the plate, without any change in its dimensions and as shown in Figures 5 and 6 is equally well adapted for use with casings of six or eight inches diameter. In respect to casings of greater diameter and which are usually made of tile sections the area and radius of curvature of the plate will be subject to appropriate selection which will provide for a space S of suitable dimensions and will enable the plate to be used with equal efficiency for casings within a range of varying diameters, the assembly details being as above described.

In the use of the assembly the pipes P1 and P2 are connected by the nipples 3a to the elbows and the nipples 2a are secured as elements of the arms 2. The sheet 6, preformed with openings for the arms 2 and the bolts 9, is slipped over these parts and placed upon the plate 4, the arms 2 and the bolts 9 holding the sheet against displacement in its plane relatively to the plate. A suitable suspension wire is then looped about the arms 2 and the assembly is lowered into the casing C to a point at which the arms 2 will be in suitable registry with the opening 0. The suspension wire is then secured in any suitable manner and the workman, standing in the pit which surrounds the casingC and using the arms 2 or the bolts 9 as handles, brings the plate 4 into the initial relation shown in Figure 5 wherein the bolts 9 project through the opening 0 and are located along the vertical center line, the lateral edges of the plate 4 impinge upon the inner face of the casing, and the sealing areas X, Y and Z are delimited. The bar 8 is then slipped over the screw shanks 11 until its movement is arrested by the casing whereupon the nuts 14 are fitted on the screw shanks and turned until they engage the bar 8, the continued turning of the nuts in the same direction causing the springing of the plate 4 in the manner above described until it is in the operative relation shown in Figure 2 at which time the arms 2 will project in substantially parallel relation through the openings and the nipples 2a will be presented externally of the casing and in readiness for the attachment of the external pipes.

Referring to Figures 7, 8 and 9:

Inthese figures the assembly is shown in a form for sealing the casing of a single pipe (shallow well) installation. The pipe P1 is attached at its upper end to an elbow 1 having a horizontal arm 2 and a vertical depending arm 3. The plate 4 has a central opening through which the arm 2 extends, the elbow being connected to the plate as in the embodiment described. With the arm 2 centrally located with respect to the plate it is preferred to provide two bars 8a, each corresponding functionally to the bar 8 of the construction previously described, and to provide a single bolt 9a, similar in all respects to the bolts 9, for cooperation with each bar 8a, the bolt 95: passing through a central opening in the bar. In other respects the construction is the same as that previously described and the manner of its application to the casing C is the same, both of the bolts 9a, however, being used in effecting the springing of the plate 4 into its operative relation.

I claim:

1. For use with a water well casing having an opening to accommodate a connection between an internal pipe and an external pipe, an assembly for sealing the casing against seepage through the opening which comprises, in combination: a plate of resilient metal for arrangement Within the casing in confronting relation to the opening and having a normal curvature about a radius longer than the radius of curvature of the casing and also having vertical and horizontal dimensions greater than the corresponding dimensions of the opening, the connection between the pipes including an elbow from which the internal pipe is suspended and which has a horizontal arm, the plate having an opening through which the arm extends to project forward beyond the plate and the arm being secured to the plate in sealed relation adjacent the Wall of the opening in the plate, a sheet of flexible resilient sealing material substantially co-extensive in area with the plate and fitted upon its convex face, the sheet having an opening through which the arm extends, a bar arranged externally of the casing and positioned to extend across the opening in the casing and to bear upon the casing at opposite sides of its opening, the plate being initially positioned to overlie the casing above, below and laterally beyond its opening and with its vertical edges impinging upon the inner face of the casing, the plate thereby initially delimiting a clearance space through which it may be sprung, and means manually actuated externally of the casing, reacting against the bar and connected to the plate for causing the springing of the plate as initially positioned into a curvature conformable to the curvature of the casing and for causing the casing and the plate as so sprung to cooperate in applying sealing pressure clamp-wise to the sheet throughout the areas in which the plate overlies the casing.

2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means manually actuated externally of the casing includes a bolt connected to the plate against rotation with its head bearing against the concave face of the plate and its threaded shank projecting horizontally forward from the plate and a nut fitted upon the shank, the bar having an opening to accommodate the shank of the bolt and the nut bearing upon the bar and by continued turning movement moving the bolt axially outward, the head of the bolt thereby causing the springing of the plate.

3. For use with the casing of a deep water well which encloses a water delivery pipe and a water return pipe and has an opening to accommodate the connections between said pipes and corresponding external pipes, an

assembly for sealing the casing against seepage through the opening which comprises, in combination: a plate of resilient metal for arrangement within the casing in confronting relation to the opening and having a normal curvature about a radius longer than the radius of curvature of the casing and also having vertical and horizontal dimensions greater than the corresponding dimensions of the opening, the connections between the enclosed pipes and the corresponding external pipes in each instance including an elbow from which an enclosed pipe is suspendedand which has a horizontal arm, the plate having openings through which the arms extend to project forward beyond the plate and the arms being secured to the plate in sealed relation adjacent the walls of the openings in the plate, a sheet of flexible resilient sealing material substantially co-extensive in area with the plate and fitted upon its convex face, the sheet having openings through which the arms extend, a bar arranged externally of the casing, the bar being positioned to extend between the arms across the opening in the casing and to bear upon the casing at opposite sides of its opening, the plate being initially positioned to overlie the casing above, below and laterally beyond its opening and with its vertical edges impinging upon the inner face of the casing, the plate thereby initially delimiting a clearance space through which it may be sprung, and means manually actuated externally of the casing, reacting against the bar and connected to the plate for causing the springing of the plate as initially positioned into a curvature conformable to the curvature of the casing and for causing the casing and the plate as so sprung to cooperate in applying sealing pressure clamp-wise to the sheet throughout the area in which the plate overlies the casing.

4. An assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein the means manually actuated externally of the casing includes a bolt connected to the plate against rotation with its head bearing against the concave face of the plate and its threaded shank projecting horizontally forward from the plate and a nut fitted upon the shank, the bar having an opening to accommodate the shank of the bolt and the nut bearing upon the bar and by continued turning movement moving the bolt axially outward, the head of the bolt thereby causing the springing of the plate.

5. For use with the casing of a shallow water well which encloses a single pipe serving for the delivery of water and has an opening to accommodate the connection between said pipe and a corresponding external pipe, an assembly for sealing the casing against seepage through the opening which comprises, in combination: a plate of resilient metal for arrangement within the casing in confronting relation to the opening and having a normal curvature about a radius longer than the radius of curvature of the casing and also having vertical and horizontal dimensions greater than the corresponding dimensions of the opening, the connections between the pipes including an elbow from which the enclosed pipe is suspended and which has a horizontal arm, the plate having a central opening through which the arm extends to project forward beyond the plate and the arm being secured to the plate in sealed relation adjacent the wall of the opening in the plate, a sheet of flexible resilient sealing material substantially co-extensive in area with the plate andfitted upon its convex face, the sheet having an opening through which the arm extends, a pair of bars arranged externally of the casing, one at each side of the arm, and positioned to extend across the opening in the casing and to bear upon the casing at opposite sides of its opening, the plate being initially positioned to overlie the casing above, below and laterally beyond its opening and with its vertical edges impinging upon the inner face of the casing, the plate thereby initially delimiting a clearance space and means associated with each bar and manually actuated externally of the casing, reacting against its corresponding bar and connected to the-plate for causing the springing of the plate as initially positioned into a curvature conformable to the curvature of the casingand for causing 'the'casing and the plate as so sprung to cooperate in applying sealing'pressure clampwise to the sheet throughoutthe areas in which the plate overlies the casing.

6. An assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein the means manually actuated externally of the casing includes a bolt connected to the plate against rotation with ,its head bearing against the concave face of the plate and its threaded shank projecting horizontally forward .from the plate and a nut fitted upon the shank, the bar having an opening to accommodate the shank of the bolt and the nut bearing upon the barand by continued turn- ,8 ing movement moving the bolt axially outward, the head of the bolt thereby causing the springing of the plate.

References Qited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

